Hi,Does anyone have any information on ship spotting in Zeebrugge please? I will be using public transport and wonder if there are places to look into the docks as well as ships entering/departing.ThanksJohn

I have been to Zeebrugge several times and it was fun in the periode that there were no fences everywhere. Because like in every port in the world it is now all fenced up. It is possible to go by car to the P&O ferry terminal but all you see is the ferry behind a fence. Behind the locks there is a large industrial area with quays but again all closed for sightseeing and long distances to drive, forget to walk it. Zeebrugge is mainly a ro/ro-port: a few ro/ro’s in the outer harbor and maybe a few cargovessels or vehiclescarriers behind the locks. Maybe a gastanker at the plant in the outer harbor. Between the ferry terminal and the locks is a short promenade with a view to a containerterminal and a few tugs. You need a car, forget public transport. Take a look first on the internet with Google Maps or Streetview, walk virtually in the streets and area. Then you see the distances and the possibilities.

There is a circular observation platform at the end of the Paardenmarkstraat, near the "Visserskruis" (a stone cross dedicated to the dead fishermen). From this platform you can see a part of the terminal container + tugs.

Another ("official") spot is on Kustlaan, near the mobile bridge and the end of Zweedse kaai. From the roof of a red container, you can see the arriving ships and the Vandamme lock.

When in Zeebrugge I am by car, and with a gentleman who cannot walk very far, and we are particularly interested in tugs and smaller vessels. Also I am not familiar with how much flexibility public transport allows (or doesn't allow, taking Pieter's comment). Also it depends on what kind of shipping you are interested in.

I have annotated the attached map with the areas I typically visit. The two viewpoints mentioned by JVCMACGM have arrows (there are no "facilities" at either). The area inside the main lock is good for car carriers etc on the move or at the nearer berths, depending on the time of day, but would be beyond normal walking distance. The current fish dock and small shiprepair berths (lower centre) are also accessible. Otherwise the old fishing dock is now mostly a marina, though some smaller windfarm and survey boats berth on the south side (but almost always have yacht in the way from across the dock).

Would like to add about public transport: there is a tramway all along the Belgian coast from French border up to nearly Netherlands border. At Zeebrugge is follows the road N34, in the city itself along N34a. Name is "kusttram". Dayticket 8 Euro, see: https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/?vertaling=true